News and comment on church closings and on modern Catholic life throughout the world. The practice of Catholic devotions as a remedy and in reparation will also be encouraged. If anyone has any news on any Catholic Church closures anywhere in the world, pictures and suggested links please feel free to e-mail. Also pay a visit to the extensive archives- also click on labels.

Pages

Saturday, April 09, 2016

The former "Minister for Ecumenism of the Pope," Cardinal Walter Kasper, has welcomed the Papal document, "Amoris laetitia". The document on marriage and family represents an open position and contributes to integration into the church. In Pope Francis, Kasper sees a ray of hope for Europe.

Emeritus Cardinal Walter Kasper acknowledged the Pope's message to marriage and the family as a "remarkable document". "Amoris laetitia" draws a very realistic picture of family with firm foundations and not an abstract ideal, he told the Catholic News Agency. The Pope expresses himself in a very biblical and pastoral manner, but not in a didactic way according to Kasper. The letter will give important information on the pastoral care and support of marriage in the German church. "Since we are partly still a developing country," the former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said.

According to Kasper the document represents an open position with which the bishops could well work in the Federal Republic. On dealing with divorced and remarried who are excluded, according to Catholic doctrine, from communion, the Cardinal said: "There are openings there, clearly." The Pope deals with the integration of these people into the life of the parish.

The Pope's letter was presented on Friday at the Vatican summarizing the deliberations of the World Synod of Bishops on Marriage and Family in 2014 and 2015. Francis calls in for more respect by the Catholic Church for the conscience of the individual in moral issues. In addition, a careful examination of the case and a balancing of interests is always necessary. At the same time Francis strengthens the role of local churches and individual bishops, to whom he concedes more autonomy and room for interpretation in the application of the Church's teaching.

Pope Francis as a beacon of hope for Europe

Kasper sees Pope Francis a beacon of hope for Europe. The continent in a state of crisis does not need new barbed wire fences, but a vision and a voice that could rekindle the fire of the European idea, he said. Pope Francis is one of the few such voices, "perhaps the only". According to Kasper, the Pope is aware of his responsibility for Europe and the continent. Therefore, he has, contrary to his dislike of awards, this year’s Charlemagne Prize. At the awards ceremony on May 6 in Rome, words are expected from the Pope both of encouragement as well as admonition.

Kasper rejected the criticism that Francis as a Latin American should get the prize who in contrast to his predecessors had little to do with the process of European integration. "Quite the reverse is true," the cardinal stressed. "From the outside, from the periphery, one sees things often more clearly and better." The experiences of Jorge Mario Bergoglio from the megacity of Buenos Aires thus plays a big role in which he had experienced the negative effects of globalization, such as poverty and misery.
Kasper made his statement in the Coronation Hall of Aachen Town Hall. The presentation of the former "Minister for Ecumenism of the Pope" is part of the program for the Charlemagne Prize with around 40 events.

Even in individual cases, no change of the teachings.
Berlin (kath.net/ KNA)

After the publication of the letter of Pope Francis on marriage and the family, German Cardinal Walter Brandmüller is warning against dilution of the Church's teaching. Misinterpretation of the letter could undermine the credibility of the Church's proclamation, the 87-year-old told the "Bild" newspaper on Saturday.

Those live in an "invalid second marriage" could not attain by means of a "salami tactics" in the end the admission to the sacraments, according to Brandmüller.

The Cardinal described derogations in individual cases as a dead end.

"What is fundamentally impossible for reasons of faith, is also in the individual case”. Brandmüller reaffirmed the Church's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage: "It is Catholic doctrine (dogma) that a validly concluded and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any power on earth including the Church. Jesus says: 'What God has joined together, man must not separate.' "

Who sets about other paths is leaving the path of Catholic doctrine, stated the former chief historian of Vatican. One could say that the adherence to the indissolubility of marriage "has become a unique feature of the Catholic Church". "So whoever denies the belief (dogma) in the indissolubility of marriage, has left the ground of Catholic doctrine."

Pope Francis summarizes in his letter "Amoris laetitia" the results of the consultations convened by him Synods of Bishops on Marriage and Family 2014 and 2015 together. He does not express himself directly on the controversial issue of admission of remarried divorcees to communion but calls for more respect for the conscience of the individual in moral issues. In addition, a careful examination of the case and a balancing of goods is required.